Elevate Jet Named Official Private Aviation Partner of the 2026 NFLPA Rookie Premiere

Elevate Jet is proud to announce an official partnership with the NFLPA, the union representing more than 2,000 active NFL players. As an official activation partner of the NFL Players Association, Elevate Jet will work directly with players, agents, and the broader NFLPA ecosystem — bringing instant, transparent private jet charter to the people who need it most.

We kicked off the partnership at the 2026 NFLPA Rookie Premiere, one of the most significant commercial launch events in professional sports. The 32nd annual Rookie Premiere took place May 14–16 in Los Angeles, bringing together 42 of the NFL's top incoming draft picks for three days of brand building and business leadership orientation.

Elevate Jet joined a roster of leading brands at this year's event — alongside Fanatics, Topps, EA Sports, Gatorade, Pepsi, SONY, Oakley, TikTok, New Era, and Microsoft — as a product and activation partner delivering hands-on brand experiences directly to the NFL's newest class of stars.

What Is the NFLPA Rookie Premiere?

For most NFL rookies, the draft is the moment the world finds out who they are. The NFLPA Rookie Premiere is where they start to figure out what that means for the rest of their lives.

Held annually since 1994 in Los Angeles, Rookie Premiere brings together 40+ of the league's top incoming draft picks for three days before their professional careers truly begin. It is the first time these players gather not as athletes preparing for a season, but as professionals learning to build a career — and a brand — that extends well beyond football.

Across the three days, players participate in trading card photoshoots, autograph signings, and jersey unveilings that mark their formal entry into the licensing ecosystem. They take part in content creation sessions that will shape how fans first know them. And through business orientation led by NFLPA leadership, they get their first structured introduction to group licensing, personal brand development, and the financial decisions that will define their lives long after they stop playing.

For many rookies, it is the first time anyone has sat down with them and treated the business side of their career with the same seriousness as the athletic side.

The 2026 Rookie Class

The 2026 class includes Raiders quarterback Fernando Mendoza, Commanders linebacker Sonny Styles, Jets tight end Kenyon Sadiq, Giants linebacker Arvell Reese, and Eagles wide receiver Makai Lemon, among 42 total participants.

The New York Jets had multiple players at the event, including edge defender David Bailey, tight end Kenyon Sadiq, and wide receiver Omar Cooper Jr., along with quarterback Cade Klubnik. The Kansas City Chiefs, Baltimore Ravens, and Philadelphia Eagles each sent three players — and the Chiefs' appearance marked the first time in seven years they have sent multiple players to Rookie Premiere.

Why This Partnership Matters

NFL players travel more than almost any other professional athlete. From preseason training camps to regular season away games, playoff travel, offseason workouts, brand appearances, and charity commitments, the average NFL player navigates one of the most demanding travel schedules in professional sports — on a timeline that does not accommodate commercial aviation's friction.

Private jet charter is not a luxury for professional athletes. It is a competitive and logistical necessity. The ability to depart on your schedule, avoid exposure in commercial terminals, recover in-flight, and arrive at your destination ready to perform is a direct performance advantage.

Elevate Jet was built to serve exactly this need. Ruby, Elevate Jet's proprietary AI pricing engine, delivers a final, confirmed price across six aircraft categories in seconds — with no quote requests, no callbacks, and no surprises. The price shown is the price paid.

For players and their teams evaluating how to structure their travel, Elevate Jet offers multiple ways to fly:

• On-demand charter a private jet — book the flight you want, when you want it, with no commitment required
• The Elevate Membership — flexible, deposit-based access with priority availability for frequent flyers
• The Azurite Jet Card — fixed hourly rates and guaranteed aircraft availability, locked for 12 months

The Elevate Jet app is available on the App Store and Google Play.

Elevate Jet at the 2026 NFLPA Rookie Premiere

As a product and activation partner, Elevate Jet put the platform directly in front of 42 of the NFL's highest-profile incoming players as they begin to build the business infrastructure that will define their professional careers.

The Rookie Premiere is where rookies meet the partners, tools, and platforms that will shape their commercial lives off the field. For Elevate Jet — a platform built on three decades of aviation expertise and purpose-built for the way professional athletes actually travel — there is no more natural entry point.

"NFLPA Rookie Premiere is where the business of the NFL starts to take shape for these players. It's not just about visibility, it's about access. Our partners aren't meeting prospects; they're building campaigns and business with future leaders of the game." — Matt Curtin, President of NFL Players Inc.

What Happened at Rookie Premiere

Three days in Los Angeles. Forty-two of the NFL's most marketable new players. And one consistent reaction when players opened the Elevate Jet app for the first time: they started pricing flights.

Players including Germie Bernard, Dezhuan-Ryan Stribling, Denzel Boston, Drew Allar, Jonah Coleman, Garrett Nussmeier, Taylen Green, Nicholas Singleton, Jakobi Lane, Cole Payton, and others came through the Elevate Jet activation — downloading the app, walking through the platform, and experiencing instant private jet pricing firsthand, many for the first time.

The moment that consistently landed: showing players how quickly they could search and price a real trip. Los Angeles to Las Vegas — a route that came up repeatedly — took seconds to price across multiple aircraft categories, with a confirmed number on screen before most players expected to have even started a search.

Once players saw the flexibility of ad hoc charter — no commitment, no membership required, just book a private jet when you need it — the conversation shifted from curiosity to genuine interest.

Elevate Jet's "Lunch in the Sky" concept generated one of the strongest reactions of the event. The idea of using a private flight as the experience itself — gathering a group of friends or teammates for a short trip — connected with players in a way that went beyond transportation. For a generation of athletes who will spend their careers navigating impossible schedules, the ability to make travel part of the occasion rather than an obstacle to it is a genuinely different proposition.

Players and their agents responded consistently to three things: the simplicity of the booking experience, the absence of a broker in the middle, and the transparency of our proprietary pricing engine's pricing. For a group about to navigate the most complex financial and logistical period of their lives, a platform that removes friction rather than adding it is a genuine differentiator. Several players and agents expressed interest in ambassador and partnership opportunities — a conversation Elevate Jet looks forward to continuing as these relationships develop.

Private Aviation and the NFL: A Natural Fit

Professional football players have long understood the value of on demand private jet travel — not as an indulgence, but as a performance tool. The demands of an NFL career make commercial travel impractical in ways that are difficult to overstate.

An NFL player flying commercial to an away game gives up control of departure time, exposes themselves to crowded terminals and unpredictable delays, and arrives having spent hours in seats not designed for a 6-foot-4, 250-pound athlete. None of this is acceptable when your body is your livelihood.

Private aviation solves every one of these problems:

• Flexible departure windows — players leave on their schedule, not the airline's
• Private terminal access — no crowds, no exposure, no delays from other passengers
• Aircraft configured for performance — from a light jet for shorter regional hops to a heavy jet for coast-to-coast travel, or an ultra long-range jet for international missions
• Instant booking — the Elevate Jet app prices and confirms a flight in seconds, not hours of back-and-forth with a broker

Every booking on the Elevate Jet app is backed by two guarantees: the Elevate Assurance Pledge — every aircraft reviewed for safety history, maintenance records, crew qualifications, and operator financial stability before booking is confirmed — and the Elevate On Time Pledge, with backup aircraft always available through one of the largest vetted operator networks in private aviation.

Elevate Jet holds ARGUS Platinum and Wyvern Wingman ratings — the highest independent safety certifications in private aviation, held by fewer than 5% of operators. Learn more about Elevate Jet's standards and heritage.

For players who want to go further — managing their own aircraft, offsetting ownership costs through charter revenue, or building long-term aviation strategy — Elevate Jet's aircraft management and advisory services support the full lifecycle of private aviation ownership.

Book Your Private Jet to Los Angeles

Whether you are traveling for a game, an appearance, or your next trip to Southern California, Elevate Jet provides instant, transparent pricing to LAX, Van Nuys Airport (VNY) — the busiest general aviation airport in the world and the preferred private aviation gateway for Los Angeles — Burbank Bob Hope Airport (BUR), and Long Beach Airport (LGB).

Popular routes to and from Los Angeles:

• Houston to Los Angeles
• Aspen to Los Angeles
• New York to West Palm Beach
• Washington DC to Chicago
• Houston to New York

See live private jet charter prices for any route — updated daily, no form fill required.

Download the Elevate Jet app to search routes, compare aircraft, and book instantly.

Frequently Asked Questions

What is the NFLPA Rookie Premiere? The NFLPA Rookie Premiere is an annual event that unlocks unparalleled access to 40+ of the league's top rookies, creating one-of-a-kind opportunities for brands looking to build player-driven product and campaigns with the next faces of the sport. Since 1994, Rookie Premiere has served as players' first marketing opportunity as a professional athlete.

Is Elevate Jet an official NFLPA partner? Yes. Elevate Jet is an official product and activation partner of the 2026 NFLPA Rookie Premiere, presented by Topps. Elevate Jet joins leading brands including Fanatics, EA Sports, Gatorade, TikTok, and Topps as an activation partner delivering hands-on brand experiences to the 2026 rookie class.

How do NFL players book private jets? NFL players and pro athletes book private jets through charter brokers, aircraft management companies, and increasingly through direct booking platforms like the Elevate Jet app. Elevate Jet's Ruby pricing engine delivers instant, final pricing across six aircraft categories with no broker call, no quote request, and no back-and-forth. The private jet charter price shown is the price confirmed at booking.

Which airports do private jets use in Los Angeles? The primary private aviation gateways in Los Angeles are Van Nuys Airport (VNY) — the world's busiest general aviation airport — Burbank Bob Hope Airport (BUR), Long Beach Airport (LGB), Hawthorne Airport (HHR), and Santa Monica Airport (SMO). Elevate Jet provides instant pricing to all of these gateways.

What is the fastest way to book a private jet? The Elevate Jet app provides confirmed, instant booking across six aircraft categories in seconds. Powered by Ruby — Elevate Jet's proprietary AI built on 30 years of aviation data — the price shown at booking is the price you pay. No revisions, no callbacks. Available on App Store and Google Play. Book a private jet now.

What safety certifications does Elevate Jet hold? Elevate Jet holds ARGUS Platinum and Wyvern Wingman ratings — the highest independent safety certifications in private aviation, held by fewer than 5% of operators. Every booking includes the Elevate Assurance Pledge and the Elevate On Time Pledge. Learn more about Elevate Jet.

How much does it cost to charter a private jet for an NFL game? Private jet charter prices vary by route, aircraft category, and timing. A light jet for a regional hop — say, Dallas to Kansas City — typically runs between $8,000 and $14,000. A midsize or heavy jet for a cross-country trip ranges from $20,000 to $50,000 or more. The Elevate Jet app shows live, guaranteed pricing for any route in seconds — no broker, no guessing, no surprises.

Who are the 2026 NFLPA Rookie Premiere participants? The 2026 class includes Raiders quarterback Fernando Mendoza, Commanders linebacker Sonny Styles, Jets tight end Kenyon Sadiq, Giants linebacker Arvell Reese, and Eagles wide receiver Makai Lemon, among 42 total players. The full list is available at nflpa.com.

When is the 2026 NFLPA Rookie Premiere? The 2026 NFLPA Rookie Premiere presented by Topps took place May 14–16 in Los Angeles.

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‍Elevate Jet is a private aviation platform offering instant booking, transparent pricing, and access to one of the largest vetted operator networks in private aviation. Founded in 1995 by Greg Raiff, Elevate Jet provides charter, aircraft management, and MRO services across the United States. The Elevate Jet app is available on App Store and Google Play. Elevate Jet is an official activation partner of the 2026 NFLPA Rookie Premiere presented by Topps.